Relay for electric gaseous discharge lamps



1941- M. c. ABBOTT RELAY FOR ELECTRIC GASEOUS DISCHARGE LAMPS Filed March 28, 1941 Matthewjfi bott INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1941 RELAY roe ELECTRIC GASEOUS DISCHARGE uuurs Matthew 0. Abbott, Ipswich, Mass, assignor to Hygrade Sylvania Corporation, Salem, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 28, 1941, Serial No. 385,674

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electric gaseous discharge lamps and more particularly to starting relays therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a starting relay which will permit an immediate starting of the heating cycle with respect to the electrodes of the lamp.

Another object is to provide a fast ciosing oi the heater circuit on the restart cycle.

A further object is to provide a thorough heat ing cycle for lamp electrodes.

Other objects, advantages and features will be apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a top view of the relay showing the elements as they appear in a dead circuit equilib rium position. I

Figure 2 is a top view of the relay showing the elements as they appear just after the initial starting cycle and during the lamp operating position.

Figure 3 is a top view of the relay showing the elements as they appear when the auxiliary starting feature of the relay operates.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the relay.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the circuit in which this relay may be used.

'Generally speaking, two different types of relays are used in the auxiliary starting equip-- ment for electric gaseous discharge lamps. One is a thermal and the other is a glow switch. One of the maindisadvantages of the glow type of relay is that it is usually necessary for the relay itself to heat up before the filamentary electrodes of the lamp start to receive any heat. This preheating period is really time lost. In the thermal relay, n preheating in the relay is necessary before the filamentary electrodes start to heat but the restarting time is too long. In the thermal relay, the bimetallic strip or other expanding element must cool down before restarting can be attempted.

I have, therefore, devised a relay which combines the better features of both types and eliminates the less desirable characteristics. The relay of my invention combines the quick starting abliity of the thermal and the quick relighting feature of the glow.

Figure 4 shows the sealed container I with the base 2 and the base pins 3, 4, and 8 extending therefrom. The vent I in the stem 8 provides for the exhausting of the container I and the filling thereof with an inert gas such as neon at A low pressure for example 8 mm.

' of the strip being fixed to t1 nected with an electric gaseous discharge tary electrodes IT and E8 or is the bimetallic strips H and i2 lead-in wires 53 and it serve a filament l5 which. acts as the nesting 1:

Figure 5 shows how the relay l lamp i6 has the alkaline earth oxidefilamentary electrodes I1 and i8 sealed t ends thereof. One end of electrode nected directly to the line. The c electrode i! is connected to one en l8 through the relay i; The at trcde I8 is connected to the line t sistance it and the ballast impedance s... Figures 1, 2 and 3 show e relative is of the various elements oi shows the position which the pa a dead circuit equilibrium cons. tallic strip it supported from 9 is bent around the heating ele is in turn supported by the lead-in H. The free end oi this strip ii he 2i attached thereto. This contact the contact 22 on one side of t bimetallic strip the st When the circuit is some E-IQQTlt it given by he strip if an distorted to break away iron its contact with b strip i2. Strip H is formed in e to permit the necessary heating the heat from the heating element sufficient to cause the strip to from strip l2.

Figure 2 shows the relationship which lamp. The strip H has been heated r to cause its free end to bend a fixed end of strip l2. If for set lamp arc fails to strik or nzair line switch is turned end 01' strip i;- heateci tween the str the relay, cl to close the Figure 3 shows the p assume when the aural employed. The contact strip I2 has now closed the contact 24 on the fixed circuit through the relay being closed, the filamentary electrodes l1 and [8 of the lamp I6 are heated. Once the circuit has been closed, the strip l2 starts to cool and is calculated to break from its contact with strip II at about the same time that the lamp electrodes have become heated sufiiciently to carry the discharge across the lamp The elements of the relay will then assume the positions as shown in Figure 2. If the lamp arc again fails to strike or maintain, th glow auxiliary will again function to heat the filamentary electrodes of the lamp.

When the lamp arc fails to strike or maintain upon the action of the thermal elements, the circuit voltage across bimetal i2 and the other elements of the switch will cause a glow discharge to be initiated, thereby heating bimetal i2 and causirig it to move inward. Ii as a result of the glow discharge, the lamp lights, the lamp voltage between the bimetal l2 and the other elements of th switch will not be suflicient to cause a continuous glow discharge and the elements of the switch will assume the positions shown in Figure 2.

What I claim is:

1. A relay comprising: a'sealed container; an atmosphere of inert gas at low pressure in said container; an electrical contact; a bimetallic strip in closing relationship to said contact; a heating element in heating relationship to said bimetallic strip; a second electrical contact; and a second bimetallic strip open to said second contact but in position to be closed by said second contact by the passage of current through said inert gas.

2. ma relay for preheating the filamentary electrodes of an electric gaseous discharge lamp, said relay having sealed therein an atmosphere of inert gas at low pressure, the combination: an electrical contact; a bimetallic strip closed to said contact; a heating element in heating relationship to said bimetallic strip; a second electrical contact; and a second bimetallic strip open to said second contact but in position to be closed to said second contact by the ionization of said inert gas after the breaking of said first contact from said first bimetallic strip.

3. In a relay for preheating the filamentary electrodes of an electric gaseous discharge lamp, said relay having sealed therein an atmosphere of inert gas at low pressure, the combination: an electrical contact; a bimetallic strip closed to said contact; a heating element in heating relationship to said bimetallic strip; a second electrical contact; and a second bimetallic strip open to said second electrical contact.

4. The relay of claim 1 in which said second bimetallic strip is electrically connected to the first-mentioned electrical contact, and the firstmentioned bimetallic strip is electrically connected tosaid second electrical contact.

5. The combination of claim 2, in which said second bimetallic strip is electrically connected to the first-mentioned electrical contact, and the first-mentioned bimetallic strip is electrically connected to said second electrical contact.

6. The combination of claim 3, in which said second bimetallic strip is electrically connected to the first-mentioned electrical contact, and the first-mentioned bimetallic strip is electrically connected to said second electrical contact.

MATTHEW C. ABBOTT. 

